Gymflextor Training Device

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to gymnastic and exercise equipment and can be used for physical exercises to develop and strengthen body muscles, for carrying out sports events and in leisure activities. Said invention makes it possible to increase the durability of the training device, the elasticity of the surface thereof and to extend the possibilities for modifying the shape of training device as a result of its structure, comprising a pressurized torus-shaped sealed reinforced chamber which is provided with a flush-mounted valve and means for modifying the shape of the chamber. Said reinforced chamber consists of an internal hermetic chamber and multilayer textile reinforcement, located on screw line around hermetic internal chamber, wherein the coils of the textile reinforcement of adjacent layers are oppositely oriented with angle between coils of 30 to 150°, and of an outer sheath made of an elastic cloth.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is entitled to the benefit of and incorporates by reference essential subject matter disclosed in International Patent Application No. PCT/KZ2005/000001 filed on Jan. 26, 2005 and Kazakhstan Patent Application No. 2004/1426.1 filed Aug. 9, 2004.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to sport training devices, gymnastic and exercise equipment and can be used for physical training for development and strengthening of muscles, along with simultaneous massage, for carrying out sporting events and for entertainment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Inflatable hoop includes torus-shaped hermetic chamber with a sunk pressure regulating valve, made of elastic reinforced material, capable to withstand a pressure of 3 atmospheres, multiple bends and deformations and belt, being means of possible change of the form of a training device is known/International Application PCT/KZ023/00006, cl. A61B 19/00, International Publication WO 02/102468 A 1, 2002/.

The known device made from reinforced material, has inadequate strength, which is connected with insufficient coherence of elastic material with armature, coursed by difference in physical-mechanical properties of materials. Under pressure inside the chamber within the limits of 8-10 atmospheres and alternating loads, forming of defects of internal surface of the chamber, penetration of air into reinforced layer and break of external part of the device accompanied with noise are possible, resulting in a possible injury. One of the disadvantages of this device is insufficient elasticity, connected with strengthened reinforcement, high rigidity of surface, and limitation on the possible shapes of the product that reduces its functional capabilities.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Main objective of invention is expansion of functional properties of device, increase of operational safety and enhancement of ease of use.

Technical result of invention is increased durability of the training device, elasticity of its surface, and enhancement of alteration of its shape.

This technical result is attained in the proposed structural design of the multipurpose GYMFLEXTOR training device, comprising pressurized torus-shaped sealed reinforced chamber, equipped with flush-mounted valve and means for modification of the shape of the chamber. Torus-shaped hermetic reinforced chamber consists of the internal hermetic chamber made of elastic gas-tight material, multilayer textile reinforcement, arranged along helical line around internal sealed chamber, wherein coils of textile reinforcement of adjacent layers are oppositely oriented with angle between coils ranging from 30° to 150°, and of the outer sheath made of elastic fabric or elastic porous material. Additional ring-shaped textile gasket positioned between internal sealed chamber and textile reinforcement on the inner side of torus surface, and the means of modifying shape of the chamber consist of belt rings and a belt equipped with an adjustable buckle.

It is stipulated that textile reinforcement should me made of textile yarn, fabric ribbon, tape or cloth. Belt rings have perimeter of circle within the limits of 6 to 15 diameters of torus-shaped chamber section, and the belt equipped with adjustable buckle has the length not less than the outer diameter of torus-shaped chamber. Ultimate tensile strength of the belt rings and the belt should be not less than 50 kg. Additionally this training device equipped with a set of elastic rectangular pads, with the length of a pad not more than perimeter of circle torus-shaped chamber section, and equipped with fasteners at end faces.

Construction of the training device made of hermetic inner chamber, non-airtight layers of textile reinforcement and nonhermetic outer sheath increase its operational safety, because in case of defects in the inner shell, air will pass through the layer of reinforcement and outer sheath without causing damage to the user. Besides, if air leakage is not significant, the training device could be used under the condition of periodic inflation through the flush-mounted valve.

The training device it is repeatedly exposed to bending when in use. Arrangement of reinforcement in coils oriented oppositely in different layers, promotes reduction of residual memory at deformations of the device and helps to return the device to initial state. The number of reinforcement layers should not be less than two, and the upper limit on the number of layers is determined by durability, thickness and density of material of which reinforcement is made. It is experimentally determined that the angle between coils should be in the range of 30 to 150 degrees, providing for the minimal deformations to the shape of the device. Outer sheath made of elastic fabric or porous elastic material reduces mechanical impact of the device on the body of the user, covers layer of armature and can be decorated in manufacturing, which can be important for creation of upbeat mood during exercise.

Device designed to change the shape of the training device allows it to stay bent for a long time, promoting deformations due to non-uniform stretching of textile armature, which can change the torus shape of the device. In order to avoid such deformations, additional strengthening is stipulated in design of device in the form of strong textile lining having the shape of a ring which is placed between the tight internal chamber and textile armature from the interior of torus surface.

Means, allowing to change the shape of the chamber, can be in the form of belt rings and belt with adjustable buckle which can be made of strong textile tape or leather. With the help of these devices the initial torus-shaped shape of the device can be changed with formation of such shapes, as figure-of-eight, ellipse, saddle, short saddle, half-saddle, pear, bow, crescent, semicircle or glasses. Use of the device, capable to have such forms, allows to diversify exercises which can be done with the help of the device, and accordingly to develop various groups of muscles. Significant efforts influencing belt rings and belt, can lead to their break, therefore tensile strength of belts should be not less than 50 kg. The size of rings in the declared limits allows to put them on torus-shaped tight reinforced chamber without insignificant effort, and to change their position easily, thus they will not spontaneously fly down from the chamber during training. To create complex shapes of training the device it is required not less than two belt rings and at least one belt with adjustable buckle.

The training device is additionally equipped with pads, made of elastic material, for example, foam-rubber in elastic cover. Rectangular shape of the pads and existence of fasteners allow to place them on the surface of the torus-shaped chamber in points of contact of training device with parts of the user's body, that prevents possible formation of hematomas and grazes and creates more comfortable conditions for training. Length of pads provides their tight fit on the surfaces of the torus-shaped chamber.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The declared device is shown in figures of drawings, where in FIG. 1 shown the section of torus-shaped chamber of the device, in FIG. 2—belt ring, in FIG. 3—belt with adjustable buckle, in FIG. 4—pad. In FIG. 5-14 shown forms possible to the device with a help of belt rings and a belt, in FIG. 15 and 16—shown some exercises which can be carried out with the help of the training device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Shown on submitted figures are torus-shaped hermetic reinforced chamber 1, belt rings 2, belt 3 with an adjustable buckle 10, pads 4, with elastic gasket 11, elastic cover 12 and fasteners 13. Torus-shaped tight chamber 1 includes gas-tight internal chamber 5, textile lining 6, made in a shape of ring, textile armature containing not less of two layers 7 and 8, located on a screw line, with opposite direction of coils in layers, and outer sheath 9. Flush-mounted valve conditionally is not shown.

With the help of belt rings and a belt with an adjustable buckle, the torus-shaped shape of hermetic reinforced chamber 1 can be transformed into a semicircle (FIG. 5), pear-shaped shape (FIG. 6), the shape of short saddle (FIG. 7), ellipse (FIG. 8), sickle (FIG. 9), saddles (FIG. 10), the shape of glasses (FIG. 11), figure-of-eight (FIG. 12), half-saddle (FIG. 13) and bow (FIG. 14).

For example, FIG. 15 shows application of the device in exercises developing external muscles of a thigh. User puts on the hermetic reinforced chamber 1, which has the shape of a bow, with a help of rings 2 on bent legs and draws legs apart, overcoming resistance of the training device. Pads 4 are placed in points of contact of the training device with the user's legs.

FIG. 16 shows use of the training device in exercises developing triceps and muscles of the back, for which purpose the device is given the shape of a saddle.

At use of the suggested shapes of the device more than 200 exercises were developed, allowing to train practically all muscles of human body.

While the present invention has been illustrated and described with respect to a particular embodiment thereof, it should be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that various modifications to this invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 

1-4. (canceled)
 5. A gymflextor training device, comprising torus-shaped hermetic reinforced chamber under pressure, equipped with a flush-mounted valve and device allowing to change the form of a chamber, wherein torus-shaped hermetic armored chamber consists of hermetic internal chamber, made of elastic gas-proof material, multilayer textile reinforcement, located on screw line around hermetic internal chamber, where coils of textile reinforcement in adjacent layers are directed in opposite directions, with angle between coils of 30 to 150°, and where outer shell is made of elastic fabric or porous material, and with device allowing to change the shape of the chamber consists of belt rings and a belt, equipped with an adjustable buckle.
 6. The training device, according to claim 5, wherein an additional textile gasket in the form of ring is installed between hermetic internal chamber and textile reinforcement from inside of the torus.
 7. The training device, according to claim 5, wherein it is additionally equipped with a set of elastic rectangular pads, with a length not more than the length of circle of the torus-shaped chamber section, with fasteners on their ends.
 8. The training device, according to claim 5, wherein said belt rings have the length of a circle within 6-15 diameters of the torus-shaped chamber section and ultimate tensile strength not less than 50 kg.
 9. The training device, according to claim 5, wherein said belt equipped with an adjustable fastener, has a length not less than the outer diameter of torus-shaped chamber and ultimate tensile strength not less than 50 kg. 